Last night Joreen, Parker and I went to the Blues Club session at the 40 & 8 in Chambers Hill. Sorry, no pictures. Most of you have heard me talk about it, and it's a pretty unique thing in this area. The place is usually packed and was even more so because one of the favorite sons of the Blues Society of Central Pennsylvania, which sponsors the jam, "Uncle Bill," was celebrating his 84th birthday last night. Watching this guy in a suit, who needed help getting to the stage but who needed no help singing, really encouraged us 53-year old geezers that maybe we have a few more miles left on the tour bus after all. Apparently, being a bit lecherous is a plus.
The three of us ended up in a line-up fronted by a guy who didn't get the memo that this was a blues-only jam, making it difficult at points to play along. It was an object lesson for me: I have to learn the lyrics to some of Da Bloos PDQ. Parker played some tasty trombone licks, though, and pleased the crowd. The Mighty Mrs. Kelly rode the B-3 beast with confidence, finally over her shyness.
The Thursday blues jam is a blast. It's open to the public, no cover. Get there before 8:30 if you want a good parking place and an early slot to play. It's good etiquette to toss a buck in the donations can, but bottles of lager are only $1.75, and that's with live music. You sign the list with your name and what you play, and you'll be put in a line-up that may include some kid playing out for the first time or somebody who's fronted bands for 20 years. That's part of the fun. It's a very supportive environment.
I should mention that it's the most not-smoke-free environment in the county, but if you want you can stand on the front porch and still hear the music --although last night that was getting a little smoky too. Hey, it's the blues. Whaddya expect, vegetarians in Birkenstocks?
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